Inductee Profile

Bob Brooks

shof-2013-Bob_Brooks Bob Brooks was a multi-talented athlete who starred for Atlantic City High School in the late 1940’s in both basketball and baseball. In 1948 he led South Jersey in free throw shooting and was the second leading scorer and rebounder on a team that was the Group IV State Champion Runners-up. The starting pitcher for three seasons, Brooks was named to the All South Jersey Baseball team in his senior year. He is a member of the Atlantic City High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Brooks’ athletic versatility continued as a collegian at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a three year starter on the basketball court and earned All Ivy and All State honors his senior year. For three seasons, he was the starting pitcher on the Quakers baseball team.

After college, Brooks pitched semi-pro baseball for the Inlet Social club and the Farley Stars, coached by baseball Hall of Famer John Henry “Pop” Lloyd. He pitched against stars from the Negro League including Roy Campanella, Don Newcomb, Jr. Gilliam, Monty Irvin and Satchel Paige.

Brooks enjoyed a successful career as a pension and estate planner. Active in the Haverford Township community, he served as a member of the Township Park and Recreation Board and the advisory committee for the Skatium. One of his most fulfilling accomplishments was coaching the Woodmere Wildcats to the championship of the Main Line Baseball League (Pony League Division). Honored as a longtime volunteer of the Ronald McDonald House, he recently coached basketball at the Kaiserman JCC also.

Brooks is fond of reminiscing about growing up in Atlantic City. “There were basketball leagues at the Virginia Avenue YMHA on every Saturday and there was standing room only to get into a 3 on 3 basketball game at the Richmond Ave. schoolyard. There was no Little League formality and everyone was chosen to play without adult intervention. There were Friday night Canteens at Atlantic City High School and the Miss America Pageant parade was in the afternoon. The seagulls were less aggressive on the beach and so were the people. If there are any better memories growing up, then my fish oil is not working!”